I would just like to salute the character and courage of the Irish rugby team, as well as the singular genius of Joe Schmidt.

The ferocity of the encounter with France took a terrible physical toll, but the fact that this team was so mentally strong and drilled to deliver the highest level of performance speaks volumes about all concerned.

The commitment in the face of a sustained assault from Les Bleus was something to behold.

The loss of figures such as Paul O'Connell and Peter O'Mahony would have been enough to crush the spirit of any normal side, but these lads set the bar just above the level of perfection.

We would all love to see them press on to the glory they deserve, but we should not forget what they did at the Millennium Stadium. The sea of green, of course, created the tide of passion and the fans also deserve great credit.